Norwood police suit handed over to special prosecutor

"The allegation is that my client was roughed up in the lobby of the Norwood Police Department," says Mike Allen, the attorney for Claude Henderson. Allen says his client was ‘roughed up' by the same officerMore >>

Attorney Mike Allen says his client was ‘roughed up' by the same officer who was forced to resign after pleading no contest to throwing Denise Diallo against a wall in a holding cell inside the Norwood police station.More >>

Charges have been dropped against a woman who was shown on surveillance video being roughed up by a Norwood Police officer. Denise Diallo, 30, was facing charges of resisting arrest, possession and drugsMore >>

Charges have been dropped against a woman who was shown on surveillance video being roughed up by a Norwood Police officer.More >>

The lawsuit involves Robert 'Bobby' Ward, the same officer who was forced to
resign after pleading no contest to throwing Denise Diallo against a
wall in a holding cell inside the Norwood police station. Also included in Henderson's lawsuit are Sgt. Tim Buchanan, Chief William Kramer, John Does and the City of Norwood.

Ward was
charged and convicted of misdemeanor assault. He was sentenced to 60 days of house arrest in November and was placed on one
year probation.

On Tuesday, Prosecutor Joe Deters' office said it plans to turn Henderson's case over to a special prosecutor for review to see if criminal charges should be filed. Deter's office cannot prosecute the case because of a conflict of interest due to frequently working with the Norwood Police Department.

In November of 2011, Claude Henderson complained that someone at the police station stole $10 out of his wallet while being questioned about a minor misdemeanor incident. A confrontation then ensued, caught on video.

In the official police report, it says Henderson became violent
towards a sergeant in the lobby, cursed at the officer and was told he was under arrest. It says he did not comply and therefore, had to be restrained
by officers. However, Henderson disagrees with that account.

Questions have been raised as to whether or not the incident should be considered a felony. Deter's office defined felony as 'the intent to
cause serious bodily harm'.

However, another legal expert who didn't want to be identified said, "Courts
have recognized that if injuries to the victim are serious enough to cause him
or her to seek medical treatment it can be Felonious Assault."

Both Norwood's Police Chief and Law Director refused to comment on the Henderson case because the lawsuit is ongoing.